Portable air conditioner unit for use in mines and other like restricted areas

ABSTRACT

A portable air conditioner unit which is entirely self-contained and sized to be readily moved about in the hot, humid, dusty and restricted working areas or passageways of mines or other similar areas which is capable of supplying such working areas with an abundant flow of recirculated, clean, filtered, dehumidified and cooled air when in operation.

Mnited States Patent [1 1 McDonald et al.

[ PORTABLE AIR CONDITIONER UNIT IFOR USE IN MINES AND OTHER LIKERESTRICTED AREAS [76] Inventors: Howard E. McDonald, 121 E. 7th

St., Tucson, Ariz. 85705; James E. Caffall, PO. Box 651, Oracle, Ariz.

22 Filed: 1516251974 21 App1.No.:435,861

52 U.S.Cl 62/239, 98/50, 62/237, 62/285 51 lnt. CI B6011 3/04 58 FieldofSearch 62/239, 237 2235;98/50 [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 1,982,470 11/1934 Franks... ..98/50 2,480,346

8/1949 Watts 62/291 Jan. 14, 1975 2,968,933 1/1961 Pfeifer 62/2393,320,765 5/1967 Chapple 62/239 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 12,0298/1928 Australia 98/50 921,687 12/1954 Germany 98/50 1,084,327 7/1954France 62/237 Primary Examiner-William J. Wye: Attorney, Agent, orFirmWarren F B. Lindsley [57] ABSTRACT A portable air conditioner unitwhich is entirely selfcontained and sized to be readily moved aboutinthe hot, humid, dusty and restricted working areas or passageways ofmines or other similar areas which is capable of supplying such workingareas with an abundant flow of recirculated, clean, filtered,dehumidified and cooled air when in operation.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEU JAN 1 4191s SHEH 2 0F 2 PORTABLEAIR CONDITIONER UNIT FOR USE IN MINES AND OTHER LIKE RESTRICTED AREASBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to power operated,selfcontained, portable air conditioner units.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention is particularly directed to anelectrically powered, self-contained, portable air conditioner unitwhich is sized to be mobile in the confined areas of a mine passagewayor tunnel and in which the major electrical components of the systemsuch as the compressor motor, blower or fan motor, dryer and temperaturecontrol box or panel are arranged in a vented compartment. This ventedcompartment is completely isolated from the moving air chamber or plenumwhich extends longitudinally through the center of the unit from itsfiltered inlet end to its evaporator cooled outlet end to therebyeliminate any possibility of the hot, moisture laden air passing throughthe plenum and any unfiltered particles of abrasive dust from coming incontact with its electrical andmechanical components. Without thisspecific separation and arrangement of components, corrosion, wear andfrequent break down of the system would result causing expensive workstoppages and frequent servicing of the units. Further, the lubricatingoil in the moving parts of the prior art air conditioners has beenworked out by moisture laden air passing over them. 7

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Heretofore, many types of cooling units,some of which were portable, have been designed, built and utilized inmines to provide some degree of comfort and healthier working conditionsfor the miners. These units cooled, dehumidified and decreased theamount of dust in the recirculated air in the mine passage to which theminers are continually exposed.

Most of the portable air conditioner or cooling units used in the pastfor the purposes described above providedfairly efficient performance incooling, dehumifying and removing dust particles from the air beingrecirculated in the mine passage. They do so, however, at the expenseand frustration resulting from recurrent breakdowns of the coolingequipment caused by the lack of protection of the vital electrical andmechanical components of the system from the corrosive and damagingeffects of extremely high humidity and dusty air to which they areconstantly exposed when the unit is operating.

In accordance with the invention claimed, a new and improvedelectrically powered, portable air conditioner is provided, the size andcompactness of which makes it suitable for easy portability and use inthe passageway or tunnels of mines and like areas. The novel features ofthis air conditioner involves the arrangement of its electrical andmechanical components relative to the forced circulation of hot humidair therethrough such that a minimum amount of corrosive damagingmoisture or dust is allowed to contact or accummulate on these vitalcomponents of the system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore one object of this invention toprovide an improved portable air conditioner unit that is especiallyadaptable for use in the hot, humid and dusty atmosphere usuallyprevalent in mines.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved airconditioner that is compact and sized to allow for easy portabilitywithin the limited area of a mine-passageway or tunnel either by meansofa flat car operating on rails on the floor of the tunnel or byoverhead carriage equipment which is supported by the usual rigging inthe roof of the tunnel.

A further object of this invention is to provide a compact portable airconditioner unit in which the electrically powered components and othervital elements of the system are completely enclosed, compartmented andseparated from any contact with the hot, humid air that is drawn inthrough filters at one end of a longitudinal air passage or plenumchamber and forced out in cool, dehumidified condition through theevaporation coil at the other or outlet endof that chamber.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe following description proceeds and the features of novelty whichcharacterize this invention will be pointed out with particularity inthe claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention may be morereadily described by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

unit showing it supported by overhead carriage equipment (in dot-dashphantom line) also for mobility purposes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring more particularly tothe drawings by characters of reference, FIG. 1 discloses a portable airconditioner unit 10 mounted or carried for mobility in the minepassageway or tunnel either by means of a flatbed mine car 11 supportedon the usual rails 12 on the floor of the passageway or supported byoverhead carriages 13 which are adapted to roll on an I-beam 14 which issecurely attached to the usual mine rigging l5 inthe ceiling of thepassageway. This equipment is shown in dot-dash or phantom line toillustrate the portability features of the compact unit.

The air conditioner unit 10 comprises an elongated box-like structure 16substantially closed on all four sides. and at both ends except forcentrally located rectangular shaped vertical openings provided at eachend to which is fitted similarly shaped air intake and air outletsgenerally called air plenums l7 and 18. These air plenums are open attheir outer ends to the atmosphere of the mine tunnel where theconditioner is being utilized and their longitudinal axes are shown asbeing coaxially aligned. Other openings in the top and side walls of thestructure such as ceiling opening 19 and one or more side wall openings20 covered with hinged doors 21 and 22 provided access to the interiorof the structure in which the components of the refrigeration or coolingsystem are located.

The enclosed box-like structure 16 is formed by attaching exteriorpanels of corrosion resistant material to a rigid structural steel frame23 which includes base plate or floor member 24, vertical angle orchannel members 25, horizontal transverse angle or channel members 26and suitable diagonal reinforcing members 27 all welded or otherwisesecured together in their preferred relationship to complete thestructure and provide rigid support means for the various components ofthe cooling system.

A completely enclosed air passageway or plenum 28 extends longitudinallyto the near ends of the box-like structure 16 along its base. Thisplenums longitudinal axis is below the longitudinal axes of air inletand air outlet and is provided with angular upstanding end portions29.and 30 that communicate with the intake and air-plenum 17 and theoutlet air-plenum 18 to cause the passage of air through one or moreremovable dust I filters 31. Dust filters 31 are inserted in thecommunicating plenum 18 at its intake end. An evaporator coil 32 isinserted in the communicating plenum at its outlet end. It should benoted that a flexible conduit or duct 33 may be removablyattached to theoutlet end of the plenum 18 to provide better distribution of cleancooled air in the mine tunnel area being worked. Plenum 18 is alsoprovided at its outlet end downstream of the evaporator coil 32 with asuitable water trap 34 and drain hose 35, the purpose of which is tocollect and disperse the condensed water that drains off of theevaporator coils and thereby prevent it from entering the air stream ofcooled,'clean air that is emerging therefrom.

The circulation of air described in the preceeding paragraph isaccomplished by means of a high capacity blower fan 34 which isinstalled in a framed transverse opening 35'. Opening 35 extends acrossthe airplenum 28 parallel to and closely adjacent the intake end of theplenum and the vertically installed filters 31. The fans drive shaft 36is joumaled in suitable bearings mounted on a rigid support member 37installed in the plenum and has a pulley 38 attached to its extendingend in driving relationship with the hub of the fan. Directly above fan34 within an area 39 of the air conditioner unit separated from theclosed plenum chamber 28 is mounted an electric motor 40 which isutilized to drive blower fan 34 through pulleys 41 and 38 connected indriving relationship by drive belt 42.

It should be noted that the principle object of this invention is toseparate or isolate the several electrical and mechanical components ofthe cooling or refrigeration system from the damaging effects of highheat, humidity and dust that is prevalent in the air of the mine tunnelwhich is being circulated through the cooling system. Therefore, all ofthese components are located and installed in the substantially closedarea 39 located above air passageway or plenum 28 which is separatedfrom the outside atmosphere and the moving air in the plenum chamber. Iffan 34 employs a sealed, shaft mounted motor, this motor can be locatedin plenum chamber 28 and still fulfill the objects of this invention.

Further components of the system mounted in area 39 of the airconditioner unit 10 and the blower fan motor 40 comprise the compressordrive motor 43, compressor 44, water cooled condenser 45, dryer 46,expansion valve 47 and electrical control panel 48. The control panel 48is accessible from the outside of the unit through a hinged door 49. Allof the electrical items connected to the control panel by suitablewiring (not shown) and the items of the refrigeration system includingthe evaporator coil 32 are connected in operating relationship bysuitable piping or tubing 50. The water-cooled condenser 45 is providedwith the usual intake pipe and hose 45' and outlet pipe and controlvalve 45" as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings to complete thesystem.

With the construction and arrangement of the components shown in FIG. 1,it is necessary thattwo small holes be provided in the vtop portionofthe plenum chamber 28 to allow for passage and movement of the fan drivebelt 42 therethrough and these openings are substantially closed bysuitable seals 51 so as to allow only a minimal amount of air to escapefrom the closed area 39 into the plenum chamber 28 or visa versa. Shouldthis minimal escape of air be undesirable, the electric fan drive motor40 could be mounted in the air passageway or plenum 29 and connected indirect driving relationship to the fan drive shaft 36 providing themotor was built, sealed and shielded to resist the corrosive effects ofthe water vapor passing through the plenum as heretofore explained.

Referring to the several figures of the drawings, it should be notedthat if the portable air conditioner 10 is to be moved through the minepassageways by means of the overhead carriages 13 previously mentioned,it would be necessary to reinforce the roof or top surface of thestructure by means of a frame preferably composed of lateral andlongitudinal I-beam members 52 which are securely attached 'to said topsurface of the air conditioner unit. At least two pairs of laterallyaligned I-brackets 53 are also attached to the unit to which chains orcables 54 having hook members at each end and angularly depending fromthe overhead carriages 13 may be attached to suitable protrusions suchas'eye hooks on the brackets for supporting the unit.

It should be noted that to further protect the air conditioner unit fromcondensed vapor that may drip from the ceiling of the mine passage ortunnel, an auxilliary roof or umbrella like waterproof covering 55having extending and angularly depending eaves 56 could be utilized tocover the entire conditioner unit.

OPERATION AND USE Refrigeration systems utilized for cooling air areavailable in many types and forms and usually consist of standardizedcomponents associated with each other in operating relationship bypiping or tubing precharged with a suitable refrigerant, such as Freon.The electric components of the system are usually connected by suitablewiring to a control panel available to the operator from outside of theenclosure containing the system.

Because the particular type of refrigeration system utilized has littleor no bearing on the performance of the portable air conditioner unit ofthis invention, it is sufficient to say that the arrangement andseparation of these components from the hot, humid and dusty air drawnin and passing through the air chamber of the conditioner unit ispertinent to the efficient functioning of such a unit as described inthe foregoing paragraphs.

In use, the air conditioner unit of this invention, because it isportable, may be easily transported to the working area of a mine tunneland floor or wall mounted and then operated to provide this area with avconstant supply of clean, dehumidified air to greatly improve theworking conditions of the miners.

The hot, dusty and usually very humid air of the mine is drawn into theair passageway or plenum 28 of the unit through the intake end 17 ofthe' plenum and through the filters 31 by the action of the-blower fan34 which provides suction on the intake side and pressure on the outletside of the air chamber. As the air passes through the removable andcleanable filters 31, most of the dust and large particles of debris areremoved and the cleaned, but still very hot, humid air passes on underpressure to the outlet end of the chamber where it passes through theremovable and cleanable evaporator coils. At this point, it is cooled bythe refrigeration system in the usual manner and passes out through theremovable outlet end 18 of the plenum into the flexible conduit or duct33 from which is distributed to any desired location in the minepassageway.

The evaporator 32 through which the humid air passes as described aboveis provided with suitable fins which surround the coils and againstwhich the humid air impinges causing the moisture to condense on theevaporator coils and drained by gravity to the bottom of the evaporatorinto the water trap 34. From trap 34 it is drained through hose 35 tosome remote area of the mine passageway. The hot air that accumulates inarea 39 of the enclosure where condenser 45 and other heat generatingcomponents of the refrigeration system are arranged may be provided withsuitable vents (not shown) which discharge into the mines ventilatingsystem (also not shown) to dissipate this harmful hot air to the outsideatmosphere of the mine.

Although but one embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variouschanges and modifications may be made therein without departing from thespirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A mine cooling unit comprising:

a housing,

said housing being of a size capable of being positioned in and movedalong a :mine passageway,

said housing including an air intake, an air outlet and an airpassageway extending between said air in take and air outlet at the baseof said housing,

a removable filter mounted in said air intake,

a fan positioned in said air passageway adjacent said air intake fordrawing air therethrough,

an enclosed chamber arranged in said housing above said air passagewayand isolated therefrom,

a motor operatively connected with said fan,

refrigeration apparatus comprising a compressor, a

condenser and an evaporator coil,

said compressor and condenser being located in said chamber and saidcoil being located within said air passageway juxtapositioned to saidair outlet,

whereby the passage of air through said air passageway is cooled at theair outlet end of said housing to avoid condensation in said housingupstream thereof, and

a drain trap and outlet mounted at the base of said coil downstreamthereof for collecting and draining from said housing water condensed bysaid coil.

2. The mine cooling unit set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said housing is mounted on a carriage.

3. The mine cooling unit set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said motor is located in said chamber.

4. The mine cooling unit set forth in claim 1 wherein:

the longitudinal axis of said air passageway is below the longitudinalaxes of said air intake and said-air outlet.

5. The mine cooling unit set forth in claim d wherein:

the longitudinal axes of said air intake and said air outlet arecoaxially aligned.

1. A mine cooling unit comprising: a housing, said housing being of a size capable of being positioned in and moved along a mine passageway, said housing including an air intake, an air outlet and an air passageway extending between said air intake and air outlet at the base of said housing, a removable filter mounted in said air intake, a fan positioned in said air passageway adjacent said air intake for drawing air therethrough, an enclosed chamber arranged in said housing above said air passageway and isolated therefrom, a motor operatively connected with said fan, refrigeration apparatus comprising a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator coil, said compressor and condenser being located in said chamber and said coil being located within said air passageway juxtapositioned to said air outlet, whereby the passage of air through said air passageway is cooled at the air outlet end of said housing to avoid condensation in said housing upstream thereof, and a drain trap and outlet mounted at the base of said coil downstream thereof for collecting and draining from said housing water condensed by said coil.
 2. The mine cooling unit set forth in claim 1 wherein: said housing is mounted on a carriage.
 3. The mine cooling unit set forth in claim 1 wherein: said motor is located in said chamber.
 4. The mine cooling unit set forth in claim 1 wherein: the longitudinal axis of said air passageway is below the longitudinal axes of said air intake and said air outlet.
 5. The mine cooling unit set forth in claim 4 wherein: the longitudinal axes of said air intake and said air outlet are coaxially aligned. 